Thursday, 28 February 2019

Yes, my darling Pfaff must be wondering what the heck is going on, that I have actually switched her on & used her... well, that was after I remembered where I store the screw driver that secures the needle in place😃

Back in Aug/Sept of 2017, I joined in with the ladies who were making Ruth's Quilt, a lovely design from Leanne Beasley.

I finished all the embroideries in good time, but came to a problem with my chosen fabrics... some of them were just not right. Having finally had the chance to dig out some different fabrics, cutting & sewing has been able to commence.

'Scrappy' is definitely not my forte, but I think this might turn out ok.

A few years back when I made my 'Tis The Season' Christmas quilt, I traced up some extra stitcheries... they've been enjoyable to work on recently while keeping an eye on the cricket or an evening crime show. Not sure what I'll do with them... but whatever the result, they'll go in the Giftie Box. I'll stitch the remaining two, then make a decision.

In some happy-sad family news, my DD-C has officially left the nest... she's been working in her new job (1st professional position) since late last year... it took her a few months & much consideration to find a place to live and also someone to share it with. We helped her move on the 24th of Feb & they are settling in nicely to their cute little unit, which is about 50mins away.

So now we have just one baby still with us, mr18.🎵Oh the times, they are a-changin' 🎵

Monday, 28 January 2019

Hello Blogland... do you remember me? I hope so, because I've missed you.

It's been a very long, very slow, very lonely recovery from the severe back pain problems that started mid-Oct when I was on holiday... I had been confined to home for much of the time since then, but am finally starting to feel I need to re-join the world.
While a lot of progress has been made, I am not fully recovered, & despite having several tests & scans I don't even have an actual diagnosis for what is causing my symptoms... more investigating is being done... but I'm able to do most things again with moderation & modification. Sitting has been & still is a pain trigger.
Pain is a terrible thing to live with, & has messed with my head somewhat... but as the pain has decreased, so my head has lightened & my spirits returned.

I've really been missing my stitching, but have managed a couple of small things recently.
I even taught myself to do chain stitch! (Small things gladden a simple mind, hey?!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful & safe Festive Season... and that January has been kind.
January weather is always a mixed bag here in Australia... terrible dangerous heat in some Eastern areas, while my area here in the West has been blessed with mild temps & conditions.

By now most sewists will have set themselves some goals for the year... new groups, BOMs, SALs, etc to join in with. Can't wait to see the fruits of those activities!

No resolutions or signups for me; I will be happy to work on finishing a few projects & remembering to join in with FNSI & FNWF😉😉

There is a couple of projects I'm starting, which will be just the prompt I need to spark my enthusiasm into action... LET'S HOPE. And of course there's always small projects to do, too.

Thank you to my lovely friends who emailed to check up on me. My disconnection to all things social & cyber has been almost total in these months, & it was lovely to open my emails & know you were thinking of me.

Monday, 22 October 2018

A week in Melbourne had us doing lots walking, a few tours, lots of meals out, & some quiet time too. At the end of that week, we drove north-west & spent the weekend with friends at their farm.

Monday the 8th, we flew out for our days in Tasmania, starting in Launceston.

It was such a joy to meet my long time blogging & IG buddy Leanne... she is just as gorgeous a person as I imagined her, & we hit it off immediately.

Wednesday the 10th we arrived in Hobart... and immediately drove up Mt Wellington... absolutely amazing... 1°C & breezy... what an experience! Unfortunately the weather was not good, so our view down to Hobart, the water & surrounding areas was heavily obscured by thick mist.

Even developed some frost in my hair!

We had planned to drive to the Port Arthur settlement on the Thursday but things took a really unfortunate turn...

I woke on that morning with the worst back back I've had in many years... quite disabling... so that was pretty much the end of the holiday.

I spent a half a day in the ED of a hospital... then just had to be on bed rest... had to cancel all our other plans & delay our return by two days.

Six days confined to a hotel room with no natural light & in terrible sleepless pain... you won't find that in the holiday guides to the beautiful south east state of Tasmania LOL.

In the middle of all that, some good news... my DDC called to tell us she was the successful applicant for a job she really hoped to get... woo hoo!

Things in my back are still not good, & being that I have had two previous surgeries, I fear that another more invasive surgery is going to be the only remedy.

I'm just gutted.

Arrived home on Wednesday 17th to a pile of fab mail, some of which I'll be showing off here in the coming months. But I really want to share now this beautiful selection of fabrics so kindly sent to me from Susan... yellows, oranges & greens for my brown-eyed hexy flower quilt project.

On a day I was feeling terrible physical pain, as well as sadness, disappointment, anger & downright sh!tty, I cried pathetic happy tears when I opened Susan's mail. Thank you again, Susan xx

I'm now in the process of seeking to get a scan to see exactly what's going on in my back, & that will give some idea of how to move forward.

It's not easy to use a laptop computer whilst lying flat on my back, so blogging will be sporadic at best for a while, as will my blog reading & commenting.

Piece Yourself Together is going to be recessed until I am reliably able to host it, but please do keep working on your EPP projects... I know they're being created & looking wonderful.

There are some other thing from my holiday that I look forward to sharing, when I'm more up to it.

So that is the roller coaster of my last 3 weeks.

Thanks for stopping by... keep stitching... do something you love every day.

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Monday the 1st of October will see me & mrHS setting off for a holiday...

two weeks away... visiting the city of Melbourne & also a few days in Tasmania.

We've never been away without the kids, so this is going to be an interesting experience!

We've planned a nice mix of activities & down-time... including time with family, a couple of patchwork shops along the way... & hopefully to meet my long-time bloggy friend Leanne (LizzieTheQuilter) when we're in Tassie.

There will be NO 'Piece Yourself Together' for the 2nd Tuesday of October.

A few images might make their way to my IG, but mostly it will be a time for me to enjoy taking photos for ourselves & just enjoying the break.

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Some more additions to the brown-eyed hexy flower collection in the last couple of weeks... good to see the collection growing.
It has to be put away for a little while now, so I can find some more greens, oranges & yellows.

The Spring weather is finally consistent here... & sadly, sickness has entered the house, following 2 bug-free winters. My poor DD-C was on Friday diagnosed with the flu, plus a chest & throat infection... she's been so very sick & it's going to be a slow recovery.
Perfect (but cheeky) opportunity for me to get a few more hexy stitches done😃.

Thank You for visiting my blog... I hope you have a good look around.
My creative interests include stitchery, English Paper Piecing, bag making, a bit of cross stitch, & quilts. I have way too many ideas in my head & not enough time to make them all!